@noname33: "
"Is this the reason for Hoppel's progression this year?"
I just registered because I did not want to let your comment about the 6-times US champion to pass without a response.
Bryce Hoppel has consistently been sub-1:45, although, like all of us, he has run slower in some meets, depending on tactics, conditioning 'phase', etc. In 2019, he set the No. 5 fastest 800 meter time in NCAA history, running a 1:44.41 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, just off the UKansas school record of 1:44.3 set by the Jim Ryun in 1966. I doubt that Ryan was doping.
In August 2020 in the Monaco Herculis meeting, he dropped his personal best in the 800 meters to 1:43.23. In 2021 he began with a 1:44.37 INDOOR 800 meter in Fayetteville, Arkansas. At the time, this was the 2nd fastest indoor 800 meter in American history, behind only American record holder Donavan Brazier. On February 13, 2021, Hoppel competed in the 1000 meter run at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, setting a new American record in the indoor 1000 meters with his time of 2:16.27.
On June 21, 2021, Hoppel qualified for the US Olympic team in the 800 meters with a time of 1:44.14. At the "2020" Olympics, he finished in 3rd place in his round 1 qualifying heat with a time of 1:45.64, qualifying him for the semifinals where he finished in 5th place in his heat with a time of 1:44.91.
On 26 June 2022, he earned his first US Outdoor title, winning the 800 in a season's best time of 1:44.60. On 21 July 2023, he clocked his first sub-1:44 since 2020, running 1:43.95 to take 6th place - sub-1:44 only gets ya SIXTH place these days! - at the 2023 Monaco Diamond League. On 11 February 2024, he won the Millrose Games 800 meters in a time of 1:45.54. On 3 March 2024, Hoppel won the 800m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in a world leading time of 1:44.92, improving upon his bronze medal from 2022.
And, of course, in July 2024 he set a new US Olympic Trials record of 1:42.77. This was a race in which 6 of the 9 finalists had set Personal Bests in the semis. Go back and watch that race. Link to the video is posted below. Knowing it would be a seriously fast race, Hoppel went straight to the front, stayed out of the pushing and heel-clipping, got challenged with about 300 m to go, and sprinted for home in the inside lane. Thus, he set a PB by 'only' 1 second on a notoriously fast track, while running in what are, no doubt, some pretty special racing shoes.
He was still 4/10s off Brazier's American record. I don't think he realized how fast he was going or even thought about time; he was just going balls out, praying he could get to the finish line. It's not like he was pulling away from Sedjati, Attaoui, and Tual in Monaco. Just one of those days when it all came together. Good for him, and good luck to him (and Hobbs Kessler and the other 800/1500 guys) in Paris! Give them some props, Man.
Speaking of "it all came together," it seems to me like Hoppel has finally matured emotionally and mentally and is taking his talent and training seriously...not that his previous 1:44's and 1:45's are something that most of us wouldn't give our left testicle for... And he is also in his physical prime at age 27.
He has been training with Hobbs Kessler. They are two guys with very different personalities, but who seem to enjoy each other's company. Here is a link to a training video, which clearly shows Hoppel's commitment to training:
If you can do THAT and still want to criticize Hoppel, then I'll listen to what you have to say.
Here is the link to his Trials victory:
Keep the thoughts coming, noname, but we have to agree to disagree on this one.